Shinee – DxDxD

It’s become routine for almost every successful kpop group to branch out into the Japanese market. Oftentimes the sound is quite different from their Korean material, which makes sense because the bulk of jpop is completely different than kpop. Some artists have a pretty stellar Japanese sound (Girls’ Generation, Myname, 2PM, Infinite), while others frustratingly lower their quality by leaps and bounds (I’m looking at you, GOT7). Shinee has been strong when it comes to Japanese tracks, though I’ve been a bit underwhelmed by the two they released earlier this year. Luckily, DxDxD (Dance, Dance, Dance) brings back the fun. It borders on campy, actually, with its ebullient, disco take on 80’s-era Jackson 5 tropes. However, that four on the floor beat definitely isn’t playing around. Minho’s raps continue to sound ridiculously silly, but what else is new? What’s surprising is that Jonghyun and Onew get in on the rapping, too, and don’t sound terrible doing it. Overall, it’s a ridiculously fun track that they’d only be able to get away with in the Japanese market.